It’s not just that Sam Hunt isn’t country. It’s that Sam Hunt is the exact opposite of country. Quite literally. If you want to hear a song that is the direct antithesis of what a country song is, listen to a song by Sam Hunt. Country equals rural. Urban equals city. It’s very simple to understand. Country music is of the country. Urban music is of the city. And Sam Hunt is urban music.

Sam Hunt’s new song “Downtown’s Dead” is about a city. He uses references to the bustling and alive nature of an urban area as the setup to the premise of the song. “The city’s so in style, all you see for miles are people spilling in and out of cars” says the first line. The second verse starts off with the line, “Dancing in the strobes out here in the throws of loud house music.”

City style, and a bustling downtown street where people are spilling out of cars is not a country landscape. It is a city landscape. References to dancing in strobes to house music is quite literally the exact opposite of the experience of enjoying country music. That doesn’t mean that cities can’t be referenced in country songs. In fact country songs have referenced cities quite often in history to contrast the values and landscapes of the city with the country. But in the case of Sam Hunt’s “Downtown’s Dead,” the city is used to contrast the feeling of emptiness and loneliness in his heart. Not a bad premise for a song on the surface. But it’s in no way country.

Sonically, country music also has significant identifiers to distinguish it from distinctly urban music. But “Downtown’s Dead” doesn’t include them. Instead it includes the sonic elements that are the fundamental elements of urban music, like digitally-enhanced playback, and drum machine beats. None of these elements are bad necessarily. But they’re not country.

When it comes to arguments of whether Sam Hunt is country or not, there’s really nothing up for interpretation, or debate. This is not an argument of taste, or even perspective. In the case of “Downtown’s Dead,” it’s not even one about quality. As a pop song, perhaps “Downtown’s Dead” is an admirable effort, even above average in its attempts at musical illustration, and it’s use of songwriting and composition to convey a personal sentiment. But it’s not country. There is no possible way to identify it as such. And so instead of the song being received upon its own merits, it is an immediate flashpoint of ridicule and rebuke, and even anger. Because it’s not country.

Sam Hunt doesn’t give a shit about country music. It’s questionable if Sam Hunt cares about music at all at this point. His music could completely destroy the 90-year lineage of country music as a commercial enterprise, and it wouldn’t even result in a night of restless sleep for him. He has no passion for country music. Music is simply an economic engine to allow him to live the type of untethered lifestyle he chooses.

“At this point … I’ve gotten into some other things outside of music that I really enjoy. Just other interests of mine that have nothing to do with music,”Hunt said recently. “I don’t know where my career will go from here, but my sole focus hasn’t been on making music all the time like it was in my 20s. I’m not writing as many songs. My interests have changed.”

That’s why we didn’t see Sam Hunt at the recent ACM Awards where he won Single of the Year for “Body Like a Backroad.” He doesn’t give a shit. Sam Hunt holds the record for the longest-charting #1 single in the history of country music and by some 10 weeks, and doesn’t even care enough to show up to accept his awards.

Sam Hunt goes on to say, “I’ve been writing songs that I don’t really feel are representing me, so I haven’t put out a record in the past year.” He’s said similar things in the past as well. It’s not just that Sam Hunt doesn’t care, it’s that Sam Hunt knows that songs like “Body Like a Backroad” are stupid, vapid, immature young-adult garbage too, only relevant to a very minute window of the human experience. He’ll take the paycheck for recording the song of course. But he has no desire to continue the ruse. It would almost be admirable if not for the fact that “Body Like a Backroad” has done so much damage to the sonic integrity of the country music genre, Sam Hunt could be the singlemost destructive artist in the genre’s history.

But don’t misunderstand criticisms of Sam Hunt’s sloth and passionless disposition towards music as a message that we want more active participation from him. It has been four years since Sam Hunt released his debut album Montevallo, and the historic success of “Body Like a Backroad” has obfuscated the fact that Sam Hunt’s lack of passion has resulted in a sweet window where new music from him has been scant. But this may not matter much. The success of Montevallo and “Body Like a Backroad” have launched scores of doppelgangers populating country music’s ranks, and Sam set the table for the very pop invasion of country we are in the midst of today, unarguably ushering in country music’s most sincere existential threat to date.

“Downtown’s Dead” is not some cliché-riddled, vacuous and shallow song in a similar vein as “Body Like a Backroad.” But it’s arguably Sam Hunt’s most non-country song yet in a distinctly non-country career, making it just as dangerous and unwelcome. Of course this won’t hinder the song’s ascent on the charts. But it’s success will result in yet another quaking fissure in the integrity of country music and it’s ability to define itself amid the onslaught of the monogenre. That is the reason it’s worthy to bestow “Downtown’s Dead” with the utmost of failing grades, regardless of it’s quality. You ask a food critic to judge a plate of bean enchiladas as a chicken Marsala entree, and it will fail every time.

It’s not downtown that is dead. It is the country that is dead, forgotten by the modern urbanized perspective, paved over by progress, rebuked by culture as being outmoded and ignorant, and impugned due to political rancor. And we have people like Sam Hunt to thank for it.

Two Guns DOWN.

112 Comments

Just when you thought he couldn’t get any worse. The idea of “downtown’s dead” would be a great song, but not with these lyrics. It would need an approach similar to Alan Jackson’s “Little Man,” or Lonestar’s “Everything’s Changed.”

My name is RW Hampton and I sing “Western Music” you will find Country very much alive in this sub genre! It is the Country music of the American West as in the reference “Country and Western” I have 14 albums and enjoy a wonderful international following and fan base. In my music, if ya listen, you can hear the influence of Haggard, Marty Robbins & Cash. Enjoy!

The sad part is, I understand the commercial appeal. But the commercial appeal should be marketed to the people who are inclined to like that music. When I turn on country radio, I want to hear country music. If I want pop, I’d turn it over to that station and truly, I would gladly listen to Sam Hunt. Because that’s what I would be seeking out to hear. There’s a reason they don’t play Seinfeld on BET. Its a vwry successful sitcom, so why shouldnt they play it? Because you expect one thing and shouldn’t be served another.

I’m so tired of hearing the argument ” country is evolving”. No, no it is not. It is being disrespected. People like Sam Hunt and countless others have no respect for the instrumentation, lyrics, and overall sound of country music. And those who like hearing these artists being played on country radio, have no respect for Country either.

Hate to break it to you, but country is not a religion. It’s a music genre. It’s not some sacred holy thing. And to your inevitable response about how you’re a better country fan because you like traditional country and I like modern country, that’s like saying that a person who likes CCM isn’t as good of Christian as a Christian who prefers hymns.

But “genre” means something, right? Could Beethoven be played on CCM radio? Eminem on Adult Contemporary? Count Basie classified as Metal?

In order for music to be classified in a genre, it must have some connection to the roots or history of the genre. Sam Hunt’s music has no relationship to Country Music’s history whatsoever. It is clearly Pop, and should be classified as such.

No one is saying it’s wrong to like this music. But it is wrong to call it country. You say you listen to your music on YouTube or Spotify. I’m gonna give you some suggestions of real country artists you can listen to, then come back and say that Sam Hunt and FGL and whoever else are country, and you won’t be able to do it.
1. Merle Haggard- Branded Man, Mama Tried, Misery and Gin, The Way I Am
2. Waylon Jennings- Waymores Blues, I recall a gypsy woman, the door is always open,
3. Willie Nelson- Red Headed Stranger(the whole album)
4. Tyler Childers
5. Colter Wall
6. Sunny Sweeney

jimreaper, you’re missing the point. This song, and a lot of these types of songs are not country. Sure, sounds and influences change a bit, and there are some songs that are different sound-wise but are still country. This isn’t country. To call it county is wrong. Like Trigger said, it’s not an argument of whether it’s good, bad, or the other. It’s factually not country.

I’ve heard several of Sam Hunts songs that I liked, and I came very close to buying his debut album a few years ago. I actually like this song, but not as a country song. If he weren’t on country radio, and if he weren’t considered a ‘country music super star’ (I saw some article about him that called him that) I would admit to being a casual Sam Hunt fan. But then again, if he were on pop radio, he probably never would have made it big.

I agree with that. Some of his writing isn’t so bad. Proof of that is Reba recording a song or two of his on her latest (not gospel) album. I’d like a lot more of current “country” songs if they would identify with what they are, instead of what the labels want us to believe. I like a lot of pop songs, but would hate those same songs if they tried to be labeled as country.

I don’t blame Sam Hunt for releasing music, I blame radio programmers, record label execs, and the general public for choosing to support/consume his crappy music. The ever increasing indiocracy that is the American public, should take 5 seconds out of their day to actually seek out good music, rather than happily consuming the crap they are spoon-fed via radio & YouTube.

Last I checked people are allowed to listen to whatever music they like. I don’t police you about what music you listen to so don’t police me about it.

Plus, just because it’s crappy music to you doesn’t mean it’s crappy music to other people. You do not speak for everyone. You are not the universal authority on what Is and isn’t good music. Some people think “Meant to be” is a good song some don’t. I personally like it if you don’t then that’s fine. Just don’t act like a jerk to people who dare have different music tastes than you.

Dr. Death, the fact that you “get” A’s in school tells me everything I need to know. Unless you are taking online classes at night to get your PhD, which you aren’t because if you were you wouldn’t mention that you’re getting A’s, you’ve revealed your youth.

I’m not questioning your mental health, or connecting music to your IQ, I’m sure you’re probably very smart. But you haven’t seen the world yet, and if you’re stopping at Bebe, FGL, and Sam Hunt, then don’t weigh in until you’ve broadened your horizons.

And don’t just check out what your parents listened to, because if you like Sam Hunt, then they don’t have a lot of depth in their record collections either. All I’m saying is go further, dig. When someone turns you on to The Beatles, seek out Big Star. When your friends talk about classic rock like Guns N Roses, introduce them to The Replacements. If they’re throwing it back to Tupac and Biggie, throw some Pharcyde or Eric B and Rakim in there. And for crying out loud, sooner or later, when someone is talking about “good country music” like Sam Hunt, you’ll turn around and say, “you guys need to hear some old Jerry Reed, he had much better rhythm”

You’re right I’m in high school. And you’re right I probably haven’t been been around the block like you have. But I have heard traditional country, and I’m sorry it just isn’t my thing. My parents don’t listen country but my grandparents do. I’ve heard their country music and I wasn’t a fan. I haven’t heard a ton of traditional country but I’ve heard enough to know I prefer contemporary country. And honestly, I probably do consider Sam Hunt more pop/EDM than country. But to me there’s enough of a country vibe to it for me to not really care

Jim Jim Jim ….here , once again , is the rationale which dictates the dissension in THESE ranks .

What’s YOUR favourite station ? The local FM pop station ? Ok let’s go with that for illustration’s sake . Your favourite station starts throwing in some Czechoslovakian folk music from the 19th century every 3rd song . First you think ‘ What the ?…must be a mistake ” ….Next day it happens again and you think ” Hmmm ?….what’s going on here ?….why isn’t anyone at the station picking up on this programming error . This isn’t POP music ” .

This goes on for a couple of weeks , you bitch to your friends …bitch to your girlfriend ….something like ” I dunno WTF is going on with POP 104 but they keep playing this foreign folk music and it all sounds the same . They hardly play any Foo Fighters or classic Brittany any more . I don’t get it but its kinda pissing me off . Where’s the POP stuff …..that’s why I tune in ? ”

This goes on for several years , Jim and now the station is telling YOU -.an intelligent POP music-loving human being- that all that 19th century folk music IS POP music . They are insulting your love of the POP genre AND your intelligence all at the same time and getting away with it cuz , y’know , it would be illegal to blow up the station .

TEN years go by and you are so frustrated that you haven’t heard a pop song on your station in a decade -just the 19th century Czechoslovakian folk music they keep CALLING pop – that you decide to retaliate by calling out your station in forums, letters to the editor , tweets and shit .calling out the labels ” providing” the fake POP to them , calling out the lute players trying to get played on YOUR pop radio station taking airplay away from Mendes and Lorde and and such ..and calling out the singers who are , indeed , ‘singing’ in a foreign language ( kinda like rappers, if you know what I’m saying ) .

Then one day somebody named JimReaper shows up and tells you to cool it …”there’s nothing wrong with people liking folk music on YOUR pop station ….who cares if they don’t play real POP anymore ” ?

I hope this clarifies the wherefores and whys of the source of our frustration and malcontent and if , one day , you see an online news item about a radio station being blown off the face of the map and you ‘re just NOT be able to stifle that little smile its cuz you ‘ get it ‘ now , my friend ……you get it !

Al, Al, Al, I don’t listen to radio. I listen to music on YouTube or Spotify. But you are making a big deal out of nothing. I can understand how it could frustrating before. But today you so many other options, like Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, what’s the point in getting upset about it? Even back then you had CDs which you still have now.

Jim …HOW on earth could you have missed the point in my little parable above ? It doesn’t matter whether people use Spotify , You Tube , iTunes or radio ….When the industry and those outlets call Sam Hunt a country singer they are misleading new listeners , insulting older ones and contributing to the erosion of the genre . Sure …..I know where to find REAL country music . But with the industry hell bent on barring it in favour of pop and r & b ……..how long will COUNTRY be available to ANY of us ?

I do get your parable, but my point is why get upset over radio when you have so many other ways to listen to the music YOU want to? If you don’t like a restaurants food why not find a restaurant you like instead of complaining about the restaurant you don’t like? My point is radio may not play your kind of country, but with all these other places to find music you can still find traditional country. And Trigger writes articles about new traditional artists all the time who have music on Spotify or iTunes.

But you can’t take it for granted that people know they have better options out there. I think this is the misunderstanding many of us independent music fans make, similar to the mistake many mainstream fans make of thinking something must be better because millions of people are listening. It takes something to awaken listeners to the fact that they have alternatives, and better options. Then they often make better choices. But since they’re often embedded in corporate culture, we can’t take it for granted that they just don’t know yet.

But if trad writers , singers and players can’t make a living because newer outlets don’t acknowledge newer ” trad” …………..these folks will soon dwindle in numbers and along with them ..TRAD, REAL ,authentic COUNTRY music.

George Strait’s latest album had , arguably , some of the best songs he’s recorded . He never got a sniff from mainstream. There are some incredibly inspiring writers and artists being ignored because kids are targeted with pop more and more often and aren’t aware of the options , as Trigger points out .
The homogenization ( eradication ) of the genre is rampant . The ‘dumbing down’ of the culture marches on , it seems .

I had a friend who, because he knew I was a passionate music lover, thought I would look down on him because he liked Madonna. My response was he could listen to whatever he wanted, but just don’t make me listen to Madonna.

I grew up in the New York area and did not much care for country music as a kid. But I knew what it was. My parents liked it. There was a 50,000 watt AM country station. I could name three three Hank Williams songs (“Hey, Good Lookin'”, “Your Cheating Heart”, “Cold, Cold Heart”) because I’d seem commercials for “country hits” albums over and over. We watched Hee Haw and the Glen Campbell and Johnny Cash variety shows. Even when I did get into country music and didn’t like the more commercial sounding stuff I’d sometimes here by chance on the radio or on CMT and TNN, I still recognized it as a form of country music. When it comes to the likes of Hunt, Hayes and Bebe, we have crossed the rubicon. I feel like I’m being lied to when that music is being sold as country music. And that seems to be the point of this article.

If I’m not mistaken, Sam was with his wife on a missionary trip. I call that doing service for the Lord. I live in the town Hannah grew up and my children went to school with her along with her siblings. Don’t judge before you know all the answers.

What does that have to do with this article? Trigger wasn’t attacking Sam Hunt’s character as a person. He was attacking the fact that he calls his music country, an attack of which he is more than deserving.

God’s got nothing to do with this, this is M-A-N at his greediest and clueless being at a record label and signing up acts like this is why real talent goes unnoticed or even unsigned; examples not of country that I know off of the top of my head are Regina Specktor and Pricilla Ahn, both signed respectively to Reprise/WMG and and Blue Note/UMG, both very good singer/songwriters, but not getting any airplay on radio or much TV exposure beyond late night talk shows and articles in newspapers/magazines as well as reviews of their work in both formats-all because NONE of the executives at either record company bothered to push them for radio airplay and the rest of it as hard as they push the pop princes and princesses that they feel will rake in all of the moolah, like the pop prince we’re talking about. That’s why we have ‘country’ singers like this guy that aren’t.

I swear to deity, a new version of the old 1933 FCC rules governing media ownership have to be brought back, so that real country, rock music, and a lot of other kinds of music that’s not pop have a chance to be heard.

There is not one thing about what he tries to sing is Country. This dude cant even spell Country and is a disgrace to Country TRUE COUNTRY MUSIC.
He is the one Alan Jackson and George Strait were singing about when they were singing a Real COUNTRY song of SOMEONE COMMITTED MURDER DOWN ON MUSIC ROW.

Been waiting for your review Trigger! You hit the nail on the head. I stopped supporting Sam Hunt a long time ago after learning his intentions. For the longest people would ask me why do you support him, he’s not country. I couldn’t get past his looks. Didn’t care about him sounding country or not. I use to be the stupid fan always calling him “pure country, more country than Johnny Cash etc” and anyone who spoke bad about him was “broke and jealous” Till one day, I woke up and realized he only came to country cause this pop music is popular and what’ll make you famous. No fiddle, no real depth stories. Sam Hunt would get crushed in every other genre. You have real guys in Nashville who can’t make it cause they refuse to sell out and play pop music. Aaron Lewis is more country than Sam Hunt, hell so is Justin Timberlake in that case. You have real musicians out there who actually love their craft. Are starving just to get someone to hear their voice. Some are even married with children. Body Like A Backroad was bad enough, this gets worse. I hate the bell whistles/Egyptian music that’s in parts of the song. All of his songs sound the same. Drum loops are not country. I will give Sam Hunt this much….Downtown IS dead because of artists like him.

This is just a punk’d episode right? I couldn’t listen that 20 seconds of the song. So at the end Ashton Kutcher jumps out and says this is actually NSync. You’ve been punked. Wow that’s what the beginning reminded me of any way freaking Maroon 5 or some old boy band. This is just a sad state of country music.

I’m a Christian as well. I don’t know anything about Mr. Hunt. I don’t care for the music though. Now, if he is working for Christ, and has changed his direction, in the other parts of his life, and he feels he will bring glory to the the throne, well, I can not say a thing. Having said this, and having been a professional and semi-professional musician all my life, and taught as well, w/a country/bluegrass college program in TN, I have to say, it’s not country, that I know of. Once again, this is my opinion only. But God does not really care about genres of music, because it’s unimportant to him.

I’m not sure that doing the Lord’s work should let one off the hook for doing shoddy work in other areas of one’s life . A bad commercial painter won’t get work ( or paid ) no matter how many times a week he goes to church.
I’m not slamming anyone’s beliefs . I just think we are discussing two completely different issues Harlan .

Well I just congratulated myself, I got .38 seconds into before I turned it off. The two thing I can say is the first 38 seconds is better than Body like a Back Road ( and that is not saying much) and its better than the rap crap that Kane Brown is putting out.

You beat me by one second. That to the ears is like a horribly bad taste in the mouth that you just can’t get rid of. It’s even really bad pop. It’s a sad state to think that will top any chart much less country.

I believe songs like this are the reason hick-hop artists like Upchurch are doing so well. People who genuinely grow up in the country don’t connect with pop country at all so it only makes sense for them to go towards a genre (hick-hop) that is “sang” by people who are at least somewhat honest. Even if they rap.

I heard it on the radio today. Turned the station like I always do when he, Kane, Jason come on. I follow Scotty McCreery and his new song was released a few days ago. I haven’t heard it yet and probably won’t for several weeks. So sad.

Funny thing about this is that this song will be played repeatedly on country radio and will move right up the charts and probably go to number one. As do other songs that are not number one material. So sad!!!

I’m 68 years old and have enjoyed a lot of great music from country artists as well as pop artist thru the years but this song is horrible, its an abomination! It hurt to listen to it, it was as if someone was running their finger nails over a chalkboard.
While I have your attention I want to give a shout out to Frankie Laine, bless his soul, he could sing anything!

The funny thing is, Sam Hunt seems like he probably would have retired after the first album if it weren’t for the tremendous amount of pressure I’m sure he faces by the team. He seemed like he was dumbfounded by the success of Body Like a Backroad. Most people would crank out 100 similar songs until they created a juggernaut brand n laughed to the bank. It won’t surprise me in the least bit if we never hear from him again after this album.

Does anything represent the current state of music like Sam Hunt not releasing an album with Body Like A Backroad on it? You know why he didn’t. He didn’t have to. It’s all about buying digital singles and pulling up Youtube Videos. Also, some of Body’s longevity has to do with a lack of options. If you want to hear a Sam Hunt song, It had to be BLAB. If you called your radio station anytime over a two-year period and asked to hear Hunt’s new single, it was BLAB. There was nothing else. He doesn’t even need an album to tour. There are so many festivals now, that he can headline, take the stage at 10:30, play for an hour and call it good.

This song does nothing for me. At least BLAB had a hook. It was creepy and bland, but it had a hook. This song pays tribute I guess to the drunk guy standing on a street corner at midnight loudly slurring his anger that nobody is out partying.

Just a really bad song that radio will play for reasons that I’m either too old or too boring to understand.

Another song as insignificant and bereft of any redeeming musical features is like twisting the dagger.

How many true , passionate , creative , talented and driven musical artists have decided to pursue other careers when they realize that all the industry and the target demographic really wants is nursery rhym-ey crap like this . Why would anyone with life options that allow them to realize some of their creative forces , challenge and achieve actual goals by offering society something worthwhile settle for singing this shit to listeners who could care less WHAT they listen to ? Would you ?

Sad things is you people are actually full on posting co.ments and waiting your time on the stupidest argument. Who gives a rat’s ass. Jesus.get a life people.focus more on working then this and you will progress more

Well here lies the problem, in order to ” make it” in the Country Music Scene you must first have connections, or have friends with connections.
My husband was raised by his mother, his father was a very abusive alcoholic.
Starting at the age of five years old my husband would hold her hand & siñg to her to cheer her up, & he would say ” mom one day I will be a big star & I will buy you a big house to run to.”
Well it’s not that simple..
He FINALLY was able to make his first album & it is TRADITIONAL COUNTRY, his name is Josiah Jacobs, PLEASE look him up on YouTube, Amazon, Spotify, & etc.

Everyone complains about Sam Hunt but I dont hear anyone complain about Kane Brown or any of the others I like Sam hunt & all of you need to realize rhat if country stayed the same it wouldnt be as popular

Tim McGraw comes out with rap songs and calls it country and people rave on him because he’s revolutionizing the country music industry. People like Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, and Jennifer Nettles are doing the same thing, yet THEY get praised. I’ve been a fan of Sam Hunt from the moment I heard, and fell in love with, Body Like a Backroad; the newest song Downtown’s Dead is just the newest reason to enjoy Sam Hunt’s talent. For someone to blantantly call this performer out as the “single most destructive artist in the genres history” OBVIOUSLY has no clue what they’re talking about. Forthermore, has issues with being jealous over a musician who has more talent in his pinky finger than the moron who wrote this rant of an article.